Mantels are one of the best places to decorate for the holidays and if you are like me, you love looking at different ones and different styles to get some ideas for your own.

I’m lucky enough to get to do two totally different ones every year, just for me. Here’s my cottage mantel that I keep pretty minimal and rustic, totally appropriate for the country setting that it is in.

Photo credit: Justin Frost

I used lots of fresh local greenery, some pinecones in a vintage apothecary jar, some antique encyclopedias (which I have sprinkled around the entire place), some sparkly grapevine balls, a birdcage and of course some candleholders. Honestly, this mantel took me all of half an hour to do. Quick, simple and rustic, just the way I like my country Christmas mantels.

Now for my city house, I went with a more sophisticated style.

Some similar elements here, fresh greenery and some dried magnolia leaves (they do last a few years, if you are careful when you store them), some fairy lights and of course candlesticks and candles. I may just tuck in some white and clear christmas balls amongst the leaves, at some point. Pretty, simple and classic, perfect for my home in the city.

As promised, here’s my urn and wreath at my city house. As you can see I went with turquoise accents on my Christmas urn, this year. I love the way the turquoise stands out against the evergreens.

And a close up.

It was super quick this year, I just picked up some cedar and boxwood branches from Loblaws and I used some leftover pine branches that I had brought home from the country and layered them together. I added in the huge pinecones, which I always seem to use, along with some birch branches.

I’ve used the turquoise bow and butterfly before and I just pulled them out of my supplies and that was it. Quick, simple and inexpensive

I also picked up a ready made boxwood wreath and just added a few pinecones and another turquoise butterfly for a super simple DIY.

I love the way the turquoise and green pops against the dark brown door. Hopefully the boxwood wreath will hold up all the winter.

If you haven’t seen my first Christmas urn I did last week for my cottage, you can see it here.

I also decided to go back and share some of my previous exterior urns and decor from years past. I think you’ll see that I stick with a pretty similar style, year and year. And they may give you some inspiration to get yours done, if you haven’t already.

After our 15-25 cm of snow this weekend, it now looks just like Christmas here! So pretty but NOT so great for driving.

This past weekend, I got my country log home ready for the holidays (minus the real tree). Have you started your decorating yet? Yesterday, I did my country Christmas exterior urn and the rest of my entrance’s decor. I rarely have a plan for this, I just go where I’m feeling it, and this is the result.

I found these adorable wooden snowflakes at Wicker Emporium last year and I was excited that I fit them into this year’s decor. I kept it pretty simple and rustic with some pine branches, cut from our own trees, my old standby birch branches (from my neighbour’s lot) and some bought cedar branches, as we don’t have cedar on our property.

I added in some red dogwood branches in the middle (from my backyard in the city) and of course, a huge pinecone and a sparkly bow to finish it off.

I also did up my vintage sled and two of the lanterns that I had spray painted black (from their original rusted silver) this summer.

Please ignore all my little wet footprints, everywhere.

Later this week I’ll be sharing my city home’s exterior urn and I’ll be taking a look back at ALL THE ONES I’ve done in year’s past. Wish me luck finding all those old pics.